Sorting apparatus



E w RIEGER E AL SORTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR Dec. E W RlEGER ET AL S ORTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1935 5Sheets-Sheet 2 TO PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL A PPA RATUS INVEN'ITORS 6 Mm 7 11maifm lflf Dec. 22, 1936. E, w. RIEGER Ei- AL SORTING APPARATUS Filed Jan16, 1935 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 INVENTORS amam fi and 7 SOR'IING APPARATUSErnest W. Rleger and Clinton E. Hunt, Steubenville, ()hio applicationJanuary '16, 1935, Serial No. 2,008

4 Claims. (Cl. 209-121) This invention relates to sorting apparatus, andconsists, specifically, in apparatus for sorting sheet material byweight. It finds practical appllcation in the sorting of sheets ofrolled steel. It will be apparent that the apparatus is of wide andgeneral applicability.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in side elevation ofapparatus for sorting sheets of steel in which the invention isembodied. Fig. Ia is a fragmentary view in side elevation, in

. which a detail of structure is illustrated diagrammatically to largerscale. Fig. II is a view of the apparatus in cross-section and to largerscale, on the plane indicated by the broken line IIH, Fig. I. Fig. IIillustrates the organization of electrically operated mechanism forautomatically stacking the sheets in successive packs of predeterminednumber. Fig. 11a is a wiring diagram. Fig. III is a fragmentarysectional view to yet larger scale, on the plane indicated at IIIIII,Fig. II. Fig. IIIa is a view comparable with Fig. III, and illustratinga modification in detail. Fig. IV is a fragmentary view, showing aportion of the apparatus in plan from above. Fig. V is a view invertical and longitudinal section; on the plane indicated at VV, Fig.IV. Figs. III and V, when brought into comparison, illustrate alternatepositions of certain movable parts. Figs. VI and VII are otherfragmentary views (in plan and in longitudinal and vertical section)illustrating particularly the structure and organization of a balancethat forms part of the apparatus. Fig. VIII is a diagrammatic view of aphoto-electric cell and associated apparatus,

' organized with a movable member of the sheetconveying apparatus. Fig.IX is a diagrammatic view of the sorting apparatus of Fig. I inorganization with manually controlled apparatus for preliminarilygrading the run of sheets from the tinning operation. Fig. X is a viewsimilar to Fig. IX, illustrating a modification in the gradingapparatus.

In the rolling of sheet-steel under prevailing conditions of millstructure and operation, it is not possible to obtain perfect uniformityin the thickness of the rolled sheet. In the production of tin plate,for example, the steel sheets are rolledand sheared to size. They thenare coated with tin, cleaned and polished, graded, sorted by weight, andpacked. Heretofore the sorting has been done by girls who, inspectingthe sheets singly, heft them one by one. These girls, through practice,learn to segregate light from heavy sheets. Such hand sorting is in thenature 0. skilled labor; the personal equation is a factor upon whichaccuracy depends; and, manifestly, it

is not possible thus to make exceedingly nice selection and segrationaccording to weight. This invention displaces skilled labor in betting.dispenses with the personal equation, and substitutes for approximationa high degree of precision, so that in a run of sheets of varying weightsegregation may be made into an indefinite number of groups, the sheetsin each group distinguished from those of adjacent groups by small butconstant inequality in weight. In association with means for efiectingthe ends indicated, additional means may be employed for preliminarilygrading a run of sheets, according to visual inspection.

Tin plate is boxed for the market and graded according to boxweight-that is to say, as of so many pounds per base box. A base box maybe, for example, 112 sheets of 14 x 20 inches. A base box of thisspecification will contain tin plate of a total surface extent of 31,360square inches. Tin plate is made in various box weights as demanded bythe trade, and usually the weight ranges from 70 pounds to 135 poundsper base box. In the operation of rolling it is not always possible toproduce uniformly an order of exact gauge or box weight; so that, whileit is the aim to roll an order having a box weight of 107 pounds, forexample, this order is likely to contain some sheets that are too heavyand beyond the range of permissible variation in that order, and othersheets that are too light. These light and heavy sheets, however, mayfall well within the ranges of other box weights. By the practice ofthis invention the sheets may be sorted,

so that they will severally and automatically fall into stations ofparticular and predetermined box weights, and thus be properlyclassified by weight. The light and heavy sheets may be set aside andlater be fitted into orders of proper box weight.

Provision is also made that as the sheets are discharged in theirrespective stations, of which there may be as many as desired, they areautomatically reckoned or counted as they fall into the pile; andprovision is made that when a number of sheets in the pile reaches 112(for example) or any fraction or a multiple thereof, as may bepredetermined, the further sheets'may be diverted to another pilingstation and there commence the building up of another package. In thisway the machine is capable of doing the reckoning which under thepresent practice is now done by men who are known as reckoners."

In the apparatus of the invention the sheets are caused to rest insubstantially vertical position edgewise upon. horizontally-extendingskids, and they are pushed singly in broadside advance along the skids.The continuity of the skids is interrupted at one or more points intheir extentand if at more points than one, then at properly spacedpointsby two particular mem-- bers. One of these two members consists oflengths of skid rail borne by and forming part of a balance; so that,when an advancing sheet of weight exceeding a predetermined criticalvalue comes upon them and rests upon them the balance swings. The otherof the two said members consists of lengths of skid rail immediatelysequentin the direction of sheet advance to those lengths justmentioned. These lengths of skid rail that form the second member aremovable from their normal positions of skid-continuity.

As illustrated in Fig. IIIQthese rail-lengths are pivoted to swing invertical plane from their normal position of horizontal continuity withthe other portions of the skid rails to a position in which thecontinuity of support is broken. In such swing the rail-lengths recedein the direction of the' length of the skid rails from the portions withwhich they had maintained continuity, and a gap-is opened in the skidrails, through which gap the advancing sheet falls by gravity.

Referring to Figs. I and II of the drawings, a conveyor structure isshownthat consists of a frame including a pair of horizontallyextending,spaced-apart, parallel sill beams wheels 2, a pair of sprocket chains 3,vanes i borne bythe chains at intervals, and skid rails 5. The sprocketchains are endless, and, interconnected by the vanes 5, travel incontinuous courses. The chains, thesill beams, and the vanes areconstructed in familiar manner, illustrated in the fragmentarylarge-scale detail in Fig. I, so that tension exerted by the turningsprocket wheels holds the links of the chain flat upon the horizontalfaces of the sill beams and the vanes in vertical position. Thedirection of travel of the upper reach. of the sprocket chain structureas seen in Fig. I is from left to right. At the left-hand end the vanes,in rounding the sprocket wheels, spread angularly apart, and at thatpoint the sheets to be sorted are introduced one by one, and restedsingly upon succeeding;

vanes. The vanes are conveniently formed of steel and are of theskeleton structure shown. They carry the'sheets laid upon them and,advancing and coming to vertical position, they bring the sheets tovertical position, resting upon rails 5, and they push'the sheetsforward, as the sheets rest edgewise upon the rails. The positions ofparticular. sheets of different size are in Fig. II indicated in brokenoutline at a and b.

- v The number of rails 5 that, extending side by side, constitute theskid-way for the sheets is variable, and will be such as, in theparticular situation is found desirable. In Fig. II five such rails areshown. The continuity of the rails 5 is the frame of the apparatus, asupon the knifeedge bearings indicated at 6!. The beam is l, sprocket2,064,858 counterweighted, as indicated at 62, and its range of swing islimited by means of a keeper 63; the keeper is also mounted in theframework, and includes a slot through which the beam at its endextends. The value of the weight 62 is such adjustable, to affordprecisely the critical value desired. The beam at one end (theright-hand end, as seen in Fig. V1) is of loop shape, to afford aproperly disposed support for the alignment of rail sections 5|.Provision is made for the maintenance of the rail sections 5! inprecisely their normal position of horizontal extent, even as they maketheir slight descent with the swinging of the beam 6. The sections 5!are mounted upon a loop-shaped member 52. Member 52 rests immediatelyupon the beam 6-on knife-edge bearings, indicated at 53, and is as itslower end articulated to the framework by links 54. Fig. VII shows aparallelogram comprising a rigid vertical frame member, the verticalmember 52 and the horizontal members 6 and 54, all

pivotally connected: and it-is manifest that, in

consequence of such organization, the loop continues in its verticalposition and the work-sustaining faces of the rail sections 5| continuealigned in horizontal position, as beam 6 swings.

Adjacent the rail sections 5! and immediately, succeeding them in thedirection of advance of material upon the skid-way are other railsections 55, that also constitute a set in alignment transversely of theskid-way. These rail sections 55 may be arms borne in parallelism upon ashaft 56; and the shaft 56 is organized, by rotation to maintain thearms alternatively in the work-sustaining position shown in Figs, IV andV, where the rail sections 55 are seen to constitute part of acontinuous skid-way, and in the swung-' aside position shown in Fig.III, where, being swung aside, a gap is opened in the continuity of theskid-way. The movement of the rail sections 55 is in the direction ofthe longitudinal extent of the skid-way and away from the plane ofextent of a descending sheet; and, in consequence, when these railsections 55 are swung to the position of discontinuity, shown in Fig.III. a gap is opened in the skid-way, through which gap asheet mayfreely fall. The rail sections 55 are thus seen to be gates in theskid-way. A normally de-energized solenoid 1 (cf. Fig. I) is organizedwith the shaft 56, and, as shown in Fig. VIII, the weighted armature 5'!of the solenoid. acting upon an arm 58, is effective to hold the shaftin such position in its range of permissible rotation that the railsections 55 extend in their normal, skid-affording position (Figs. IVand V).

When the solenoid is energized, the arm 58, to

which the armature is pivoted, swings upward (Fig. VIII), the shaftturns, and the rail sections 55 come to their-gap-opening position (Fig.111). v

From this position the tie-energizing of the sole.- noid allows theparts to fall away under gravity, and thus the rail sections again arebrought to the position of Figs. IV and V.

Alternately, the rail sections 55 maybe adapted to slide horizontallybetween gap-opening and closing positions. As shown in Fig. IIIa, therail sections 55 may be secured to a cross-bar 12. A

tension spring 13, acting upon the cross bar, is 5 advances, and therail sections give downsheet, it swingsback to .normal position (incl-'gap-closing position, and a solenoid l, arranged in opposition to thespring, is adapted to shift the rail sections 55' as a unitlongitudinally of the rails 5. Normally the solenoid i is de-energized,and the rail sections 55 lie in gap-closing position. When a sheet ofcritical weight or greater ward, the solenoid is energized'and the railsections 55 are drawn in the direction of the arrow, Fig. IIIa, intogap-opening position. Upon the passage through of the sheet, the railsections 5| rise, the solenoid is de-energized, and the spring 73restores the rail sections 55 into their normal, gap-closing position.Purposeful delay in the sequence of the steps described is consideredbelow. These various specific ways of opening a gap in the skid-way, topermit the falling through of the sheet, sumce to indicate that theinvention may be practised with variation in details of structure andoperation.

Whether the rail sections 55 swing, as shown in Fig-III, or slide, asshown in Fig. IIIa, their movement is in the direction of the length ofthe skidway; thus, with a minimum range of movement of these parts, agap is opened for the fall of the sheet, and the gap that is opened isnot limited lateraily by the presence of such movable parts. When theadvancing sheet reaches the edge of member 5i the gap is open before it,and when it passes beyond such edge it falls free, without anyobstruction or restraint whatever.

Electrical control is preferably provided for opening the gap in theskid-way. Referring to Fig. VIII, a photo-electric apparatus is shown, v

including a light source 8, a photo-electric cell 9, and a slottedscreen ill. The screen If) is borne 1 by the beam 5 (cf. Fig. VII), andthe parts are so arranged that normally the screen cuts off light fromthe source; but when, in response to the weight of a heavy sheet, thebeam 6 swings, the slot in screen l0 comes to position permitting lightfrom source 8, passing through the slot, to impinge on cell 9. Thiscauses current flow in the cell circuit H, and, by means of the usualelectric equipment (I I0) organized wi vh the cell and a source ofelectric supply, a timeimit relay l2is brought into play. Through therelay a normally open make-and-break device l3 in the circult it thatenergizes the solenoid l is closed; the

solenoid is energized; and the rail sections 55 move to the gap-openingposition shown in Figs. III and 11111. A heavy sheet impelled along theskid-way by a vane t and bearing upon the aligned rail sections 5| hasbrought such operation about. The advance of the sheet continues (cf.Fig. III). Advancing beyond the edge of rail sections 5 I, the sheet afalls through the gap that has'thus automatically been opened before itin the skid-way. When the beam 6 isrelieved of the weight of thedentally raising railsections 5! to their normal positions, Fig. V)light is cut off from cell 9; the time-:limit relay l2, after apredetermined delay, again opens the make-and-break device i3; thesolenoid l is de-energized, and the track sections 55 move back undergravity to their normal positions of continuity in the skid-way. Theorganization is such that the gap will open while the advancing sheetstill rests on the rail sections 5i and before it passes beyond the edgeof these sections, and the time-limit relay is so designed and adjustedthat the solenoid i will not be de-energized to permit the rail sections55 to return to the sheet when the gap is reached.

Falling through the gap, the sheet may by a curved guide l5 be broughtto horizontal position; and, arrested by a stop jl 6 (Fig. I), may thenslide down an inclined guide I! to a receptacle pre-- pared for it.

Advantageously, the guide I! is adjustable between two positions ofinclination, whereby it is adapted to direct the discharged sheetsalternately into two courses of delivery. Conveniently, the

guide-is angularly adjustable in such manner that the sheets aredelivered alternately into two rereceptacles located one on eachof theopposite sides of the apparatus. A tally and electric mechanism areorganized in the apparatus for swinging the guide from one position tothe other;

upon the'delivery of a predeterminednumber of graded sheets into onereceptacle, the guide automatically swings and delivers the sheets intothe other receptacle. Accordingly, stacks of sheets of predeterminednumber and grade are obtained automatically, and it merely remains topack and bind the stacks for shipment.

As shown in Fig. II, the guide I! is mounted upon a shaft 14, and,subject to the alternate energizing of two solenoids 15, I6, it isshifted from P one to the other of the two positions indicated, wherebythe sheets dropping through the gap in the skidway may be discharged,first from one side of the apparatus and then from the other, intowaiting receptacles. A tally i1 is conveniently mounted upon theframework of the apparatus, and the operating arm of the tally isorganized with a spring l8 and a solenoid 19 in such manner that eachtime that the solenoid is energized a tally-operating oscillation of thearmis efiected. A magnetic switch 8| (Fig. 11a) is arranged with thetally, and, responsive to adjustable means within the tally mechanism,the switch .8! is actuated on that swing only of the tally arm 80 thatcompletes a predetermined numberof swings ensuing upon the lastpreceding actuation. As will presently appear, each actuation of theswitch BI is effective to swing the in cline i i from its one positionto the other. It may be remarked that the telly i1 and switch 8|comprise a machine which is obtainable on the open market under the nameProductimeter, and for present purposes a diagrammatic illustration ofsuch machine is deemed adequate.

It is manifest that, if found desirable, means may be providedfor'holding the guide I! against accidental swing during the time whenboth of the two solenoids 75, 16 tirade-energized. Such means'may, forexample, take the form of latches of known structure which, subject toelectric control, may be effective while the said solenoids arede-energized, but which will become ineffective when either solenoid,being energized, is about to swing the guide. Alternatively, it ismanifest that the solenoids themselves or associated magnets may be madeeffective during such times and to such ends.

On each side of the sorting apparatus, above the path of sheet delivery,a photo-electric cell is mounted, and below each of such paths a lightof light across the path of sheet delivery and upon its associated cell90, and the electric circuit wires 92 (Fig. II) ofthe cells areconnected through the usual, well-known transformer and amplifyingapparatus to a source of electric energy, whereby, when the beam ofthelight playing upon either of the cells is interrupted by the passage ofa sheet, the circuit wires 93 (Fig. 11a) of the tally-operating solenoid19 are energized. Thus, the delivery of a sheet from either side of theapparatus is instrumental in producing a tallying swing of the arm 80.

The tally mechanism in this case is so adjusted that, every time the arm80 completes I I2 swings, the controlling circuit 94 of the magneticswitch 8i is energized. In other words, the switch BI is operated uponthe delivery of 112 sheets from either side of the apparatus, that is,the delivery of 112 sheets subsequent to the last preceding operation ofthe switch. It is manifest that the mechanism may be so adjusted thatthe switch will operate upon the delivery of any predeter mined numberof sheets. If, for instance, the practice is to make up, not one, butten boxes of 112 sheets to the package, the switch will operate onlyafter the delivery of 1120 sheets, to swing the guide to alternateposition.

When the switch 8i operates, it swings a makeand-break device 95, andcloses the energizing circuit as, 91 of the solenoids 15, 1s. Thesolenoid circuit includes a contact arm 98 that swings between twocontact blocks 99 and 990 as the guide I1 is swung between its alternatepositions. The contact block 99 is connected by a wire 89 to oneterminal of solenoid I; and block 990 in like man ner'is connected by awire 89 to one terminal of the solenoid IS; the opposite terminals ofthe solenoids are connected in common to the circuitwire 97, while thecircuit wire 96 is connected to the contact arm 98. 'When the guide IIlies in the position shown in full lines, the arm 98 is in contact withthe block 99. The closing of the magnetic switch 0| then efiects theenergizing of solenoid I5 through the circuit I wires 91, 89, 90. Thearmature of solenoid i5 is drawn downward, and the inclined guide I1 isswunginto its alternate position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. II.In such alternate position the contact arm 98 engages the contact block990, whereby, when H! sheets have been discharged from the left side ofthe apparatus (Fig. II) and when thereupon the switch 8| again closes,the solenoid 16 is energized through circuit wires 91, 88, 96.Thereupon, the guide I1 is swung totheinitial-position firstmentionedthe full-line position, Fig. II. Accordingly, the apparatus isadapted automatically to count and to register the number of sheets asthey are delivered and .to deliver the sheets in piles of predeterminednumber at one and another point of delivery.

In Fig. I the positions of five such sorting and delivering devices areindicated in the course of the travel of the conveyor through its upperhorizontal reach. ,One or more of them may be made effective, asdesired. The weights 02 (Fig. VII) of the several devices may be nicelyadjusted to such relative magnitudes that the first device will removefrom an advancing sequence of sheets those that exceed a certaincritical weight; the second device will remove from the remainder allthat exceed another and smaller critical weight; and so on.- As manysuch particular sorting devices as are desired may be provided to actupon a single run of sheets. Thus the run of sheets may be segregated byweight automatically, and with niceness and precision.

, Sheet material of any sort and for any purpose may thus be sorted andgraded.

Tin plate as it comes from the tinning machine and through; the branningbox and bran cleaner must be inspected, and, by inspection, the sheetsare classified into four categories, termed in mill parlance primes,seconds, menders, and wastes.

It is contemplated that two conveyors, such as shown in Fig. I, may beprovided. Such an arrangement isshown in Fig. IX. The first conveyor,indicated at I00, may be equipped with one or more (in this case three)sorting devices operated severally by push-buttons I05 under the controlof an inspector. The sorting devices may include, in association with askid-way upon which the sheets rest edgewise and along which theyadvance, swinging gates such as the gate 55 of Fig. V; so that, when thegate is open, the advancing sheet will fall from the skid-way. By suchmeans the seconds," menders, and wastes may be sorted out and the sheetsof these three categories severally segregated, and

only the primes may go to the second conveyor, indicated at 200, whichin the manner already described automatically sorts them according toweight.

The sheets coming from the tinning machine IOI are passed through thebran cleaner I02, whence they proceed to' the inspection station I03. Atthe station I03 the sheets advance oneby-one to position in the usualturn-over device I05; the opposite faces of each sheet are in theturn-over device carefully inspected, and classi fication of the sheetis determined. The sheet then enters the conveyor I00. If the sheet is a"prime, it is permitted to proceed through the conveyor 900 and isautomatically fed to the conveyor 200 of the described apparatus forsorting by weight. If the sheet is a second, a mender, or a waste, theinspector presses theappropriate-one of the three push-buttons I05; thusa gap-controlling solenoid I00 is energized, and a gap is opened in theskid-way above the corresponding delivery incline I70. The push-buttonis held depressed until the advancing sheet reaches and falls throughthe gap. Then the push-button is released, and the continuity of theskid-way is restored. It will be manifest that the apparatus I00 isefiectiv subject to the control of the inspector, to discharge theimperfect sheets selectively into three paths of delivery whereby. theyare segregated according to the place on the conveyor I06, the inspectorpresses push-button I05a, and thereby de-energizes the solenoid I01. Inconsequence, the armature oi the solenoid drops to a position in which acollar I09, integrated with the armature, is engaged from below by asupporting stop IIOa. Thus the conveyor I00 is supported ir inclinedposition I06a, and the second advances to a con- 'ered into a receptaclelllc.

veyor Hilda, which discharges it into receptacle lilo. Upon releasingthe button lfi5a, the solenoid it? is again energized, and the conveyor"3% is restored to horizontal position.

Upon pressing the push-button 5052), the solenoid lli'i is de-energized,and simultaneously a normally de-energized solenoid I i ii is energized,shifting the stop lllla into retracted position. Thereupon, the conveyortilts to the position i 66b,

in which position it is supported by engagement of the collar N19 with astop Hill). A conveyor W81) receives the sheet from the conveyor I06 anddelivers it into a receptacle lllb. Thus, the inspector isable to effectthe segregation of mendersl In like manner wastes are deliv- That is tosay, by pressing button i050, the attendant de-energizes the solenoidlfll, retracts the two upper stops Ga, Hob, and causes the conveyor 06to tilt into position 5860. The sheet is discharged upon a skid-way W80,whence it passes into the receptacle for wastes.

It will be manifest that the practice of this invention admits ofadvantages of the nature indicated. Sheet steel or sheets of othermaterial may readily be classified and segregated according to theirmechanical perfection, and the sheets of first class may thereafter beaccurately sorted dinally along said rails and toward the so constitutedgap, eachrail including a section movable between a position bridgingthe gap and a position oi withdrawal from the gap in the direction ofthe longitudinal extent of the rail, each rail additionally including adownwardly movable section, such downwar'dlymovable sections of theassociated rails being arranged in alignment transversely of the skidway adjacent to and on the side of approach of the sheets to the gap,the said downwardly movable sections being responsive in downwardmovement in unison to the weight of a sheet in excess of a predeterminedcritical value resting upon them, and means responsive to such downwardmovement of the rail sections last named for shifting the first-namedrail sections simultaneously from their positions of gap-bridging towithdrawn and gap-opening positions.

2. In sorting apparatus for sheet material, two conveyors arranged insuccession, the second conveyor adapted to receive a sheet advancingfrom the first, each conveyor including a skid rail with a gap in it andmeans for causing the sheets to advance one by one resting edgewiseuponsaid rail, two gates normally bridging the gaps in the two skidrails, one of the said gates being subject to the control of anattendant whereby it may be swung at will'from closed to open position,and the other of the said gates being subject to automatic control, suchautomatic control including a'member movable in response to the weightof a sheet exceeding a predeterminedcritical value that in the coursealong the conveyor comes to position upon it, together with means forswinging the automatically controlled gate in response to movement ofsuch movable member.

3. In sorting apparatus for sheet material two conveyors arranged insuccession, the second conveyor adapted to receivea sheet advancing fromthe first, each conveyor including a skid rail with a gap in it andmeans for causing the sheets to advance one by one resting edgewise uponsaid rail, two gates normally bridging the gaps in the two skid railsand adapted to be swung from such positions, two solenoids, oneassociated with each gate and adapted when energized to swing each itsassociated gate from gap-bridging position, means for energizingmanually and at will the solenoid associated with the gate in the firstconveyor, and means for energizing the solenoid associated with the gatein the second conveyor, the

last named means including a section of skid rail movable under animposed weight of predetermined value.

4. In sorting apparatus for sheet material, a horizontally extendingskid-way including a vertically movable section, means for advancing asuccession of sheets resting edgewise upon it one by one along saidskid-way, a stationary vertically extending supporting member, acounterweighted beam fulcrumed on said member, the movable section ofthe skid-way being fulcrumed on said beam and being provided with anintegral downward extension, a link arranged between such extension andthe vertically extending support, and forming with the extension thesupport and the beam a parallelogram of interlinked parts, whereby asthe beam swings the said skid-way section is maintained in horizontalposition, and means responsive to the swinging of the beam for allowingan advancing sheet to fall from the skid-way.

ERNEST W. RIEGER; CLINTON H. HUNT.

